Acute Effect of Anaerobic Exercise on Cortisol, Growth and Testerone Hormone Levels

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of anaerobic exercise on cortisol, growth, and testosterone hormones in elite level athletes according to gender. Materials and Methods: A total of 16 elite athletes, 8 females and 8 males, aged between 18 and 23 years and actively engaged in sports, participated in the study. Measurements of height, weight, blood and hormone levels were taken before and after exercise. The data obtained were evaluated using SPSS 23 software, and the Wilcoxon test and Mann Whitney U test were used to test the significance of the difference between two independent groups. Results: When the levels of cortisol, growth, and testosterone hormones were examined before and after anaerobic exercise in male athletes, it was found that growth (z=-2.10, p=0.03) and testosterone (z=-2.52, p=0.012) hormone levels increased after anaerobic exercise, and the difference was statistically significant. No statistically significant difference was found in cortisol hormone (P>0.05). In female athletes, when cortisol, growth, and testosterone hormone levels were examined before and after anaerobic exercise, it was found that cortisol (z=-2.24, p=0.02) hormone levels increased after anaerobic exercise, and the difference was statistically significant. No statistically significant difference was found in growth and testosterone hormones (p>0.05). Conclusion: It is thought that sports scientists can contribute to sports science by researching the effects of exercise on hormone secretion more comprehensively with different age, gender, branch, and different training methods.